The project «In Search of Paradise» represents a personal and profound exploration of experiences of overcoming and loss, reflecting the journey of the author and her son, displaced persons from Donetsk. In 2014, when their homeland was seized by separatists, they faced numerous turning points, including life in Bucha and a forced escape due to the full-scale invasion of Russian troops in 2022. Upon returning to Bucha after the deoccupation, they seek meaning, hope, and identity in the context of a military reality.

The project explores how wars and disasters impact individual identity and social consciousness. Memories of the mining city of Donetsk serve as an emotional anchor, creating visible light amidst the new landscapes the author discovers in Essen. This contrast creates space for reflection on how memory shapes perceptions of the world and creates hope for places in the hearts of those who have experienced the loss of home.

A central theme of the project is the quest to find a new «place of happiness» amidst a shifting reality. Essen symbolizes hope and becomes a setting where the author attempts to understand her identity and explore new horizons, despite the hardships they face.

The project emphasizes the mining cities—Donetsk and Essen—highlighting their cultural parallels and differences. The photographs capture not only the physical space but also the emotional state, creating a bridge between the past and the present. «In Search of Paradise» is not just documentation of a personal story; it is a comprehensive exploration of the search for identity and overcoming contradictions.

The project proposes a search for an ideal place connected to feelings of home, comfort, and happiness. The author notes, «I am not here to stay. I am simply here… to remember what it means to be home.» Thus, this exploration discusses issues of human development and the desire to understand one’s place in the world, finding inspiration in the memories and hopes that continue to live in the hearts of those who have experienced trauma.